User Guide
English ( 3 – 26 )
Appendix
English ( 27 )
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................. 3
Box Contents ........................................................................................................ 3
Support ................................................................................................................. 3
Setup ............................................................................................................. 3
Connection Diagram.............................................................................................. 3
Setting up MPK mini Plus with Software ............................................................... 4
Setting up MPK mini Plus with MPC Beats ....................................................................... 4
Setting up MPK mini Plus with Garage Band .................................................................... 4
Setting up MPK mini Plus with Other Software ................................................................. 4
Features ........................................................................................................ 5
Top Panel .............................................................................................................. 5
Rear Panel ............................................................................................................. 7
Operation ...................................................................................................... 8
CV Setup ............................................................................................................... 8
Scales Configuration ............................................................................................. 9
Chords Configuration .......................................................................................... 11
Global Parameters ............................................................................................... 11
Editing a Program ................................................................................................ 12
Using the Arpeggiator ......................................................................................... 13
Using the Step Editor .......................................................................................... 14
Using the Live Sequencer ................................................................................... 15
Keybed Functions ............................................................................................... 17
Using the Program Editor ......................................................................... 18
Setup ................................................................................................................... 18
Graphical Interface .............................................................................................. 19
Editing a Pad ....................................................................................................... 20
Control Voltage.................................................................................................... 21
Editing a Knob ..................................................................................................... 21
Editing the X-Y Controller (Joystick) .................................................................... 22
Editing the Keybed .............................................................................................. 22
Editing the Arpeggiator ........................................................................................ 23
Editing the Keybed Curve .................................................................................... 24
Editing The Sequencers ...................................................................................... 25
Saving Programs ................................................................................................. 26
Appendix ..................................................................................................... 27
Technical Specifications ...................................................................................... 27
Trademarks & Licenses ....................................................................................... 27
2
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the MPK mini Plus. At Akai Professional, we know how serious
music is to you. That’s why we design our equipment with only one thing in mind—to make
your performance the best it can be. This User Guide will take you through all the details of
setting up and operating your MPK mini Plus and includes instructions for installing and
operating the Program Editor software.
Box Contents
MPK mini Plus
USB Cable
Software Download Card
Quickstart Guide
Safety & Warranty Manual
Support
For the latest information about this product (documentation, technical specifications, system
requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit akaipro.com.
For additional product support, visit akaipro.com/support.
Setup
Connection Diagram
Items not listed under Introduction > Box Contents are sold separately.
Computer
Synthesizer
Sustain Pedal
External
MIDI
Device
3
Setting up MPK mini Plus with Software
To use your MPK mini Plus with a software program, you must connect the unit to your
computer using a standard USB cable first.
Note: If you are connecting MPK mini Plus to a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub.
Setting up MPK mini Plus with MPC Beats
1. Open MPC Beats. Go to Preferences > MIDI/Sync in MPC Beats and select “MPK mini
Plus” as the MIDI input device by enabling the Track and Control buttons next to its
name. From this menu, you can also enable Sync under the MIDI output ports to sync the
MPK mini Plus to your DAW’s BPM setting.
2. Load a plugin in MPC Beats and play the keys on MPK mini Plus to hear the instrument
being played through your headphones or speakers connected to your computer.
Setting up MPK mini Plus with Garage Band
1. Open GarageBand. Go to Preferences > Audio/MIDI in GarageBand and select “MPK
mini Plus” as the MIDI input device.
2. Choose from the list of instruments in GarageBand and play the keys on MPK mini Plus
to hear the instrument being played through your headphones or speakers connected to
your computer.
Setting up MPK mini Plus with Other Software
To select MPK mini Plus as a controller for your digital audio workstation (DAW):
1. Open your DAW.
2. Open your DAW's Preferences, Options, or Device Setup, select MPK mini Plus as
your hardware controller, and then close that window.
Your MPK mini Plus is now able to communicate with your software. Consult your DAW’s
software manual for more information on MIDI device setup.
4
Features
Top Panel
1. Keybed: This 37-note keyboard is velocity-sensitive and, along with the Octave Down /
Up buttons, can control a ten-octave range. You can use the keys to access certain
additional commands, as well. Hold down the Arpeggiator On/Off button and press a
key to set the Arpeggiator parameters. You can also hold down the Note Repeat button
and press keys to change the drum settings.
2. Drum Pads: The pads can be used to trigger drum hits or other samples in your
software. The pads are velocity-sensitive, which makes them very responsive and
intuitive to play. MPK mini Plus has two banks for samples that can be accessed using
the Bank A/B button. Access one of the eight Programs by pressing and holding the
Prog Select button and tapping a drum pad.
3. X-Y Controller: Use this 4-axis thumbstick to send MIDI pitch bend messages or send
MIDI CC messages.
4. Pitch Wheel: The pitch bend wheel is primarily used to bend the notes played on the
keyboard up or down. This allows you to play phrases not normally associated with
keyboard playing, such as guitar-style riffs.
5. Modulation Wheel: The modulation wheel is typically used to add variation for the sound
you are playing. This type of real-time controller was originally introduced on electronic
keyboard instruments to give the performer options such as adding vibrato, just like the
players of acoustic instruments do.
6. Arp On/Off / Config: Press this button to turn the Arpeggiator on or off. Pressing it
during a latched arpeggio will stop the arpeggio. Press and hold this button and press the
corresponding key to set various parameters. Press and hold Shift and this button to
open the Configuration menu for the Arppeggiator. See Using the Arpeggiator for more
information.
7. Tap Tempo / Clear Drum: Tap this button at the desired rate to determine the tempo of the
Arpeggiator or Sequencer. Press and hold Shift and this button to clear all drum events
from the Sequencer.
Note: Tap Tempo is disabled if the Arpeggiator is synced to external MIDI or CV clock.
5
8. Note Repeat / Config: Press this button and then press a pad to cause the pad to
retrigger at a rate based on the current Tempo and Time Division settings. Press the
button again to disable Note Repeat. Press and hold Shift and this button to open the
Configuration menu for the Note Repeat function.
9. Full Level / Clear Key: Press this button to activate or deactivate Full Level mode in
which the pads always play at a maximum velocity (127), no matter how hard or soft you
hit them. Press and hold Shift and this button to clear all Keyboard Sequencer events.
10. Octave Down / Step Edit: Press this button to shift the keyboard’s range down, from
one to four octaves. Press both Octave buttons simultaneously to reset the keyboard to
the default center octave. Press and hold Shift and this button to open the Step Edit
menu to edit key or drum sequences on a step-by-step basis. See Using the Step Editor
for further instructions.
11. Octave Up / Live Seq: Press this button to shift the keyboard's range up from one to
four octaves. Press both Octave buttons simultaneously to reset the keyboard to the
default center octave. Press and hold Shift and this button to open the Live Seq menu
and begin making a live drum or key sequence. See Using the Live Sequencer for
further instructions.
12. Display Screen: Use this screen to browse the internal menus and adjustable parameters.
13. Encoder: Turn this knob to select from the internal menu options. Press it to select an
option.
14. Bank A/B / CV Setup: Press this button to switch the pads between Bank A or Bank B.
Press and hold Shift and this button to open the CV Setup menu. See CV Setup for
further information on CV functions.
15. Scales / Config: Press this button to enable or disable Scales mode. When enabled,
notes outside of the selected scale can be played, transposed, or ignored depending on
the current setting. Press and hold Shift and press this button to open the Scales
Configuration menu. See Scales Configuration for definitions of parameters and
available scale settings.
16. Chords / Config: Press this button to enable or disable Chords mode. When enabled,
playing a key will play the selected chord type in a selected scale. Press and hold Shift
and press this button to open the Chords Configuration menu. See Chords
Configuration for a list featuring definitions of editable parameters.
17. Shift: Press and hold this button and press another button or turn a knob to access their
secondary functions (indicated by bordered white text underneath the part). Quickly
double-press this button to lock the Shift function so buttons will always perform their
secondary function. Press once again to turn off Shift Lock.
18. Home / Save: Press this button to return to the Home screen on the Display. Press and
hold Shift and this button to save the current settings as a preset to one of 8 Program
slots.
19. Prog Select / Edit: Press and hold this button and press one of the pads to select the
corresponding program number (1–8). A program is a group of settings stored as a file on
your MPK mini Plus. Programs can be created and then sent to MPK mini Plus with the
downloadable MPK mini Plus Program Editor. Press and hold Shift and press this button
to open the Edit menu. See Editing A Program for more information about program
editing and Using the Program Editor to learn how to use the MPK mini Plus Program
Editor application to create, save, and send programs from your computer to the MPK.
20. Assignable Knobs: Each 360º knob sends a MIDI CC message. Press and hold Shift
and turn one of the 8 knobs to control its secondary function.
6
21. [<<] Rewind / Prev Step: Press this button to rewind in a connected DAW. While editing
a sequence, press this button to go to the previous step.
22. [>>] Fast-Forward / Next Step: Press this button to fast-forward in a connected DAW.
While editing a sequence, press this button to go to the next step.
23. Stop: Press this button to stop transport playback in a connected DAW. Press and hold
Shift and press this button to open the Global menu to edit Global parameters such as
Transpose, Tempo Taps, Octave, Pad channel, and Aftertouch. See Global Parameters
for more information about these Global functions.
24. Play: Press this button to start transport playback in a connected DAW.
25. Rec: Press this button to enable recording in a connected DAW.
26. Seq Play/Stop: Press this button to start and stop playback of the sequence. When
playback is stopped, it will resume from the start of the sequence.
Rear Panel
1. USB Port: Connect a USB cable here to deliver power to the keyboard and transmit MIDI
data to a connected computer to control a software synth or MIDI sequencer. MPK mini
Plus can also be powered via a USB cable and wall outlet adapter.
2. Sustain Input: Connect a sustain pedal (sold separately) to the keyboard here. When
pressed, this pedal will sustain the sound you are playing without having to keep your
fingers pressed down on the keys.
3. CV/Gate Out (1/8" / 3.5 mm, TS): MPK mini Plus will send control voltage (CV) and/or Gate
signals over these outputs to optional external synths or sequencers. Use standard 1/8”
(3.5 mm) TS cables to send a single CV/Gate signal through the following outputs:
• Pitch: Sends CV pitch messages.
• Gate: Sends Gate (note length) messages.
• Mod: Sends CV Modulation or Velocity messages.
4. Clock In: MPK mini Plus will receive control voltage (CV) timing signals from this input.
When receiving clock in, this tempo will set the internal arpeggiator and sequencer clock.
5. Clock Out: MPK mini Plus will send control voltage (CV) timing signals from this output.
When sending clock out, the signal will follow the internal arpeggiator clock when set to
Internal, or incoming MIDI clock when set to External.
6. MIDI In: Use a standard 5-pin MIDI cable to connect this input to the MIDI output of an
external MIDI device (additional MIDI keyboard, pad controller, etc.).
7. MIDI Out: Use a standard 5-pin MIDI cable to connect this output to the MIDI input of an
external MIDI device (synthesizer, drum machine, etc.).
IMPORTANT: When MPK mini Plus is powered by a computer, its MIDI In/Out ports
become a fully functional computer MIDI interface. In this configuration, the 5-pin MIDI
ports are accessed by selecting them from your DAW’s MIDI Setup or Preferences. This
allows you to flexibly route MIDI channels within your DAW of choice and use your MPK
mini Plus as a primary controller for your studio setup.
When MPK mini Plus is powered by a wall adapter, MIDI data will transmit to the 5-pin
MIDI Out port by default.
7
Operation
CV Setup
The CV Setup menu is used to adjust the parameters for the CV/Gate outputs and Clock
Input/Output.
To enter the CV Setup menu, press and hold Shift and press Bank A/B. Then, use the Encoder to
select and adjust the parameters below. These settings can also be adjusted using the Control
section of the Program Editor.
Voltage
Parameter
Src (Source) Keyboard, Key
Order (Note order) Low, High, Last Choose the note to be sent via CV when
Gate (Gate Mode) Normal, Legato Set how the gate mode will behave when active
Mod (Mod
Source)
Bend (Bend
Range)
IDiv (Clock Input
division)
0Div (Clock
Output division)
Value Range Notes
Sequence, MIDI 01-16,
Pads, Drum Sequencer
Key Velocity,
Modwheel Sequence
Velocity
01-12 semitones Set the range of the pitch bend to be applied to
x4, x2, 1, /1.5, /2, /3,
/4, /6, /8, /12, /24, /48
1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/4t, 1/8,
1/8t, 1/16, 1/16t, 1/32,
1/32t, 24p, 48p
Select a channel for the CV to receive on/off
signal transmissions from.
multiple notes are held down:
Lowest note, Highest note, or Last (newest note
played).
and a key has been held down. In Normal mode,
the gate will be retriggered. In Legato mode, the
gate will be held open along with the key.
Select the source for the Mod CV output.
the CV pitch output when the pitch wheel is
moved.
Set the number of trigger pulses to occur before
the sequencer moves to the next step.
Set the output time division sent by the CV
Clock Output.
8
Scales Configuration
In Scales mode, you can set the keybed to play only in a certain scale. Press the Scales and
Shift buttons simultaneously to open the Scales mode configuration menu and use the
Encoder to edit the parameters listed in the table below. These settings can also be adjusted
using the Key Scale section of the Program Editor.
Parameter Value Range Notes
Mode On, Off Enables or disables Scales mode.
Key C-B
Scale
Non-S (NonScale Notes)
Chromatic, Major,
Melodic Minor,
Harmonic Minor,
Major Pentatonic,
Minor Pentatonic,
Dorian, Phrygian,
Lydian, Mixolydian,
Aeolian, Locrian,
Blues, Flamenco,
Hungarian
Ignore, Transpose
Scale Definitions:
The following table lists the 16 available scale settings and their composition.
Name Notes
Chrom (Chromatic) 12 tone scale;
Intervals: Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half
Example: C, C#, D, D# E, F, F# G, G# A, A#, B
Maj (Major) 7-tone scale;
Intervals: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half
Example: C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Melod (Melodic
Minor)
Harm (Harmonic
Minor)
Maj P (Major
Pentatonic)
Min P (Minor
pentatonic)
7-tone scale;
Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half
Example: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#
7-tone scale;
Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Augmented second, Half
Example: A, B, C, D, E, F, G#
5-tone scale;
Intervals: Whole, Whole, Augmented second, Whole
Example: C, D, E, G, A
5-tone scale;
Intervals: Augmented second, Whole, Whole, Augmented second
Example: A, C, D, E, G
Determines the key of the scale. This key is also
shared with Chords mode.
Determines the scale used. This scale is also
shared with Chords mode. See “scale
definitions” table for name abreviations.
Determines whether non scale notes played will
be silenced (Ignore) or transposed to the next
nearest scale tone.
9
Name Notes
Dor (Dorian) 7-tone scale;
Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole
Example: D, E, F, G, A, B, C
Phryg (Phrygian) 7-tone scale;
Intervals: Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
Example: E,F,G,A,B,C,D
Lydia (Lydian) 7-tone scale;
Intervals: Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half
Example: F, G, A, B, C, D, E
Mixo (Mixolydian) 7-tone scale;
Intervals: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole
Example: G, A, B, C, D, E, F
Aeol (Aeolian/ Natural
Minor)
Locr (Locrian) 7-tone scale;
Blues 6-tone scale;
Flmnc (Flamenco) 6-tone scale;
Hngar (Hungarian) 7-tone scale;
Whole (Whole tone) 6-tone scale;
7-tone scale;
Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
Example: A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Intervals: Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole
Example: B, C, D, E, F, G, A
Intervals: Augmented second, Whole, Half, Half, Augmented second, Half
Example: A, C, D, D#, E, G
Intervals: Half, Augmented second, Half, Whole, Half, Augmented second
Example: E, F, G#, A, B, C, D#
Intervals: Whole, Half, Augmented second, Half, Half, Augmented
second, Half
Example: C, D, Eb ,F#, G, Ab, B
Intervals: Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole
Example: C, D, E, F#, G#, A#
10
Chords Configuration
In Chords mode, multiple notes will be played when a single key is pressed. Press the Chords and
Shift buttons simultaneously to open the Chords mode configuration menu. Then use the Encoder
to enable or disable the mode and set the chord and inversion type played according to the options
in the table below. Press and hold Shift while pressing a key to play chord inversions. These settings
can also be adjusted using the Key Chord section of the Program Editor.
Parameter Value Range Notes
Chord Type 1-3-5, +7, +7+9, Maj7, Min7,
Key C-B Determines the key of the chord. This key
Scale Chromatic, Major, Melodic
Inversion Type None, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Determines the type of chord inversion
Non-S (Non-Scale
Notes)
Dom7
minor, Harmonic minor, Major
pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic,
Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian,
Mixolydian, Aoelian, Locrian,
Blues, Flamenco, Hungarian
Ignore, Transpose Determines whether non scale notes
Select 1-3-5 for Triads, +7 to add seventh
extension to triad, +7+9 to add seventh and
ninth extension, or select a type of seventh
chord.
is also shared with scales.
Determines the scale of the chords; Shared
with Scales Mode.
played when Shift is held. When set to
None, key will play chords in root position.
played will be silenced (Ignore) or
transposed to the next nearest scale tone.
Global Parameters
Certain editable parameters on the MPK mini Plus affect the entire device, known as Global
parameters. Press the Stop and Shift buttons simultaneously to bring up the Global menu and
use the Encoder knob to select and edit the parameters listed below. These settings can also
be adjusted using the Program Editor.
Parameter Value Range Notes
Transpose -12 to +12 Transpose the keyboard up or down by
MIDI Channel 01-16 Determines the range of the keys for MIDI
Pad CH (Pad
Channel)
PadAT (Pad
Aftertouch type)
Taps (Tempo
Taps)
Trpt (Transport) On, On/Off Set CC Transport buttons send an On
01-16 Determines the MIDI channel used by the
Off, Chan, Poly Determines the pad aftertouch type.
2-4 Sets the number of taps required to set the
semitones.
transmission.
drum pads. Affects all pads.
Affects all pads.
BPM with the Tap Tempo button.
message when pressed and released or an
On message when pressed and an Off
message when released.
11
Editing a Program
Press the Shift and Prog Select buttons to open the editing menu. The display will show all
editable parameters. Then, use the Encoder to select and adjust the following parameters.
These settings can also be adjusted using the Joystick, Pads, and Knobs sections in the
Program Editor.
Parameter Type Parameter Value Range Notes
Joystick X-Axis Pitch, 1CC, 2CC Selects the control affected by
XCC1# 0-127 Sets the value range of the first CC
XCC2# 0-127 Sets value range of second CC
Y-Axis Pitch, 1CC, 2CC Selects the control affected by
YCC1# 0-127 Sets value range of first Y-axis CC
YCC2# 0-127 Sets value range of second CC
Pad Note# 0-127 Sets the MIDI note number of the
CC# 0-127 Sets the CC value of the pad.
PC# 0-127 Sets the MIDI Program Change
Off C (Off Color) 0-31 Sets the color of the selected pad’s
On C (On Color) 0-31 Sets the color of the pad light when
PMode (Play
Mode)
Toggle On / Off Turns pad toggle on or off.
Knob Mode Absolute, Relative Absolute: knob position directly
CC# 0-127 Sets the MIDI CC value of the knob.
HiVal 0-127 Sets the upper limit value of a knob
LoVal 0-127 Sets the lower limit value of a knob
Note, ProgCh,
CC#
Note: The Mod Wheel, Pitch-bend Wheel, and Sustain pedal controls are pre-configured and
cannot be edited.
moving the Joystick along the Xaxis.
message sent by moving the
joystick along the X-axis.
message sent by moving the
joystick along the X-axis.
moving the joystick along the Y-axis.
message.
message.
pad.
value of the pad.
light when the pad is turned off.
turned on.
Selects the type of message sent
when a pad is pressed.
corresponds to MIDI CC value (0 –
127).
Relative: knob position corresponds
to knobs in your DAW.
control.
control.
12
Using the Arpeggiator
Press the Arp button to engage the Arpeggiator. The notes you play in this mode will be
arpeggiated based on several parameters. Hold down the Arp button and press the
corresponding key or use the Knobs to edit the following parameters. These settings can also
be adjusted using the Arpeggiator section of the Program Editor.
Parameter Value Range Notes
Arp On/Off On, Off Turn the Arpeggiator on or off.
Div (Time Division) 1/4, 1/4T, 1/8, 1/8, 1/8T, 1/16,
1/16T, 1/32, 1/32T
Set the division of notes the arpeggiator will
play.
Swing 50% (no swing), 55%, 57%,
59%, 61%, 64%
Mode Up, Down, Incl, Excl, Order,
Rand
Oct (Octave) 1, 2, 3, 4 Determines the octave range of the
Lat (Latch) On, Off Turning Latch mode on will repeatedly
Clock Internal, External, CV Trig. Assign the arpeggiator tempo to the MPK
Sets the amount of swing with which the
arpeggio will be played back.
Determines how the arpeggiated notes are
played back.
Up: Notes will sound from the lowest to the
highest.
Down: Notes will sound from the highest to
lowest.
Excl (Exclusive): Notes will sound from the
lowest to the highest, and then back down.
The lowest and highest notes will sound
only once at the directional change.
Incl (Inclusive): Notes will sound from the
lowest to the highest, and then back down.
The lowest and highest notes will sound
twice at the directional change.
Order: Notes will sound in the order they
were pressed.
Rand (Random): Notes will sound in
random order.
arpeggio.
arpeggiate the notes you have played even
after you release pressure on the keys.
While holding down the keys, you can add
more notes to the arpeggiated chord by
pressing down additional keys. If you press
the keys, release them, and then press
down a new combination of notes, the
Arpeggiator will memorize and arpeggiate
the new notes.
mini Plus’s Internal clock, an external MIDI
source, or Trig mode will receive tempo
data from the CV Clock Input.
13
Parameter Value Range Notes
Gate 10%-99% Sets the note length for the arpeggiator,
BPM 30-240 Sets the tempo for the arpeggiator. Can also
expressed as a percentage of the set note
division.
be set with the Tap Tempo button.
Note: The Arpeggiator and Sequencers cannot be used at the same time when the unit is in
the Step Edit or Live Sequence modes.
Using the Step Editor
Press and hold Shift and the Octave Down button to open the Step Editor menu. The display
will show a visualization of the notes selected on the keyboard across the bottom as well as a
list of editable parameters. Use the Encoder to scroll through the list of parameters. A step
sequence can be composed of up to 64 steps. Each step can store up to 8 notes with velocity
and length. You can edit the length of a sequence using the Sequencer section of the
Program Editor.
To add notes to a step sequence, use the [<<] and [>>] buttons to locate a step within the
sequence. Then, press the desired Keys to enter those notes to play at that step of the
sequence. The display graphic will update to highlight the keys you have entered in white.
Enable Scales or Chord mode to fix the keybed to a desired scale or chord type. Pressing a
key you have already entered again will remove that note from the step sequence. You can
also press the Pads to add or remove drum hits from your sequence.
Note: To delete key events while the sequence is active, you must press Shift and the desired
key when the sequencer is passing through the desired step. This action will delete chords
entered while Chord mode is active and notes lasting longer than one step.
To set a note’s length longer than one step, press and hold the key of the desired note, and
then press [>>] while the note is held. Note lengths up to 64 steps can be set. Notes that
exceed this will be truncated to sequence length.
To transpose your sequence up or down, use the Encoder to select and then turn on
Transpose mode. You can also turn this function on and off using the Sequencer section of
the Program Editor. Then, use the keys to transpose your sequence up or down by 12 semitones using middle C set as the root note, or no transposition.
To clear all events from a sequence, press and hold Shift and then press Full Level to clear
all keyboard events from the sequence; press and hold Shift and then press Tap Tempo to
clear all drum events from the sequence.
14
Press the Seq Play / Stop button to play a sequence, and again to stop playback. Use the
[<<] and [>>] buttons or the Encoder knob to navigate the steps of a sequence. You can also
edit sequence parameters at any time by pressing Shift and using the Knobs.
Parameter Value Range Notes
STEP (Sequencer
Step)
LEN (Sequence
Length)
TRANS
(Transpose status)
T. DIV (Time
division)
KEYS 0-08 Indicates the number of keys set to play at
CHAN (MIDI
Channel)
01-64 Indicates the currently selected step.
01-64 Shared between the Step Editor and Live
Off, On Indicates the on/off status of the Transpose
1/4, 1/4T, 1/8, 1/8T, 1/16,
1/16T, 1/32, 1/32T.
C1-C16 MIDI channel destination for Key
Sequencer.
function.
Determines sequencer time division. This
function is shared with the Arpeggiator.
the current step.
Sequencer.
Using the Live Sequencer
Press and hold Shift and the Octave Up buttons to open the Live Sequencer menu. The
display will show a list of editable parameters as well as the pads engaged in a grid view and
the sequence steps along the bottom of the screen. Use the Encoder to scroll through the list
of parameters. A filled-in square indicates a drum hit on that step, while an unfilled square
indicates a rest. A filled-in arrow to the right or left indicates more steps offscreen.
To program a drum sequence, first set the Pad parameter to your desired mode: choose
Live to record drum hits in real-time or Step to program hits step-by-step. You can edit
sequence parameters at any time by pressing Shift and using the Knobs.
• In Live mode, Pads 1-16 will correspond to the 16 different drum voices. Press Seq
Play and live record your drums directly into the sequencer. Press Shift and an active
Pad to remove it from the sequence.
• In Step mode, Pads 1-8 in Bank A correspond to the first 8 steps of the sequence,
while Bank B corresponds to steps 9-16. Press one of the Pads to add the currently
selected drum voice to that step.
To select a pad for editing, hold Shift and press a pad to select it for display. When shift is
held, the currently selected pad should be shown in White. Tap another pad to select it. When
selected, the new pad should turn White. Release the Shift button to enter the newly selected
drum voice in your sequence.
15
To clear all events from a sequence, press and hold Shift and then press Tap Tempo to
clear all drum events from the sequence; press and hold Shift and then press Full Level to
clear all keyboard events from the sequence.
Press the Seq Play / Stop button to play a sequence, and again to stop playback. Use the
[<<] and [>>] buttons to navigate the steps of a sequence. You can also edit sequence
parameters at any time by pressing Shift and using the Knobs.
Live Keyboard Recording:
When the Live Sequencer is active and the sequence is running, you can press a key at a
given step to add the corresponding note to that step. You can also activate and use Scale
and Chord modes during live recording.
Holding down the Shift button and pressing that note again at the same step will remove a
playing note from the sequence.
Parameter Value Range Notes
STP (Sequencer
Steps)
LEN (Sequence
Length)
PAD Live, Step Determines the mode of Pad recording. Live
DIV (Time
division)
KEY 0-08 Indicates the number of keys set to play at
CH (MIDI
Channel)
01-16, 17-32, 33-48, 49-64 This parameter will update automatically
01-64 Shared between the Step Editor and Live
1/4, 1/4T, 1/8, 1/8T, 1/16,
1/16T, 1/32, 1/32T.
C1-C16 MIDI channel destination for Key
when the seq is playing to indicate which
16 steps are represented by the seq pattern
graphic.
Sequencer.
is the default setting.
Determines sequencer time division. This
function is shared with the Arppegiator.
the current step. Updates in real time based
on your inputs.
Sequencer.
16
Keybed Functions
Key Label Function
C3 1/4 Sets Arp / Sequencer Division.
C#3 1/4T
D3 1/8
D#3 1/8T
E3 1/16
F3 1/16T
F#3 1/32
G3 1/32T
G#3 UP Sets Arp Type to the label value.
A3 DOWN
A#3 EXCL
B3 INCL
C4 ORDER
C#4 RAND
D4 LATCH Turns latch on or off.
D#4 ARP OCT 1 Sets the Arp Octave Value.
E4 ARP OCT 2
F4 ARP OCT 3
F#4 ARP OCT 4
G4 SWING 50% Sets the Arp / Sequencer Swing Value.
G#4 SWING 55%
A4 SWING 57%
A#4 SWING 59%
B4 SWING 61%
C5 SWING 64%
C5# Sync Sets the Arp / Sequencer to sync via MIDI
clock, CV trigger, or to use the internal clock
to determine tempo.
17
Using the Program Editor
Setup
To use the MPK mini Plus Editor:
1. Optional: Connect the unit to your computer using a standard USB cable (If you are
connecting it to a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub). You can still use the Editor
and create presets without connecting an MPK mini Plus, but you will not be able to
send/load presets to/from it.
2. Open the Editor application on your computer. The window will show a visual
representation of all its editable controls. See Graphical Interface for an overview of
each section.
18
g
y
Graphical Interface
The MPK mini Plus Program Editor has a straightforward user interface that can be broken
down into distinct sections for editing:
2. Controls/Sequencer
1. Channel
13.
Arpeggiator
3. Note Repeat
12.
Ke
bed
11.
Chord
1. MIDI Channel: These two fields determine the channels through which the pads, knobs, X-Y
2. Controls/Sequencer: These tabs indicate the two display views of the Editor; the selected tab
3. Note Repeat: This section contains the Note Repeat functions. Click the button next to
4. Global Settings: This section allows you to set global parameters such as Pad Aftertouch Type
5. Joystick: These settings control the parameters affected when moving the X-Y Controller along
6. Preset: Click the text field and type in a preset name for your settings before saving. This name
7. Knobs: This section enables you to edit the function of the knobs. 8 knobs are pictured in the
8. CV: This section contains the CV/Gate settings parameters. See Editing the CV to learn more.
9. Pads: Click the MIDI tab to edit the pad assignments. This section enables you to edit note
10. Scale
Controller, and keyboard send MIDI data. Specific instructions are provided in the chapters for
each control: Operation > Editing a Pad’s MIDI Note, Editing a Knob, Editing the X-Y
Controller (Joystick), Editing the Keybed.
is highlighted in red. The Controls page, shown above, displays upon launching the application.
Click the Sequencer tab to view the Sequencer page. See Editing the Sequencer to learn
more.
Enabled to turn it on and select a time division for the function.
and Transport CC mode.
its X axis (left/right) or Y axis (up/down). See Editing the X-Y Controller (Joystick) to learn
more.
will display on MPK mini Plus’s screen when loaded onto the unit from the Editor.
Editor. See Editing a Knob to learn more.
assignments for the pads. 16 pads are pictured in the Editor: 8 of them correspond to the pads
on the MPK mini Plus when Bank A is active, and the other 8 correspond to the pads on the
device when Bank B is active. Click the Colors tab to select each pad’s on/off colors. See
Editing a Pad to learn more.
9. Pads
8. CV
4. Global
Settin
s
5. Joystick
7. Knobs
6. Preset
19
10. Scale Mode: Click this button to enable scale mode. Use the drop-down menu to select the
11. Chord Mode: Click this button to enable Chord Mode and click the field next to Type to select
12. Keybed: Click the field next to Octave to open the drop-down menu to select the keybed
13. Arpeggiator: These settings control the timing, range, and general behavior of the arpeggiator.
Key, Scale type, and whether non-scale notes will be silenced or transposed to the nearest
scale note. See Editing the Keybed to learn more.
the chord type. See Editing the Keybed to learn more.
octave range. Click the field next to Transpose and select from the drop-down menu to
transpose the entire keybed up or down. See Editing the Keybed to learn more. To change the
key velocity sensitivity, see Operation > Editing the Keybed Curve.
See Operation > Editing the Arpeggiator to learn more.
Editing a Pad
You can set the Mode, Signal type, and MIDI note for any of the pads in Bank A or Bank B. You can
also set the channel through which all the pads send their MIDI notes.
To select the pad’s signal type, click the field labeled Note within the pad and select from the
drop-down menu if you want the pad to send a Note, Program Change, or CC signal when pressed.
To select a pad’s MIDI note, click the third field within the pad next to Note and then type the
desired MIDI note number (0 – 127). The MIDI note value will change accordingly. The current MIDI
note value (C-1 – G9) will be displayed on the pad.
To change the pads’ aftertouch type, click the field undertneath the pads labeled Global Pad
Aftertouch Type and select CHANNEL, POLY, or OFF. Enabling aftertouch allows for additional
MIDI messages to be sent via varying pressure from a pad after it has been pressed down.
CHANNEL mode affects the whole MIDI channel while POLY mode only affects the individual notes
pressed.
To set the pad’s Mode, click the field at the top of the pad labeled Momentary to
choose between two modes:
• In Momentary mode, pressing a pad will play a sound or sample until you
release pressure on the pad, at which point the sound will stop.
• In Toggle mode, pressing a pad triggers the sound or sample to play in
its entirety, regardless of when you release pressure on the pad. Press the
pad a second time to trigger a Note Off message.
To select the MIDI channel for all the pads, click the text field next
to Pad at the top left corner under MIDI Channel. Then, select the
desired MIDI channel number (1 – 16) from the drop-down menu.
To change the Transport mode, click the field next to Transport and select ON to set CC
Transport buttons to send an On message when pressed and released. Select ON/OFF to set CC
Transport buttons to send an On message when pressed and an Off message when released.
20
To change the pad colors, click the Colors tab next to MIDI at the top of each Pad bank to open
the colors page. Click the color block below Off Color to open the color pallete and select the color
you wish the pad to appear while in the Off position. Click the color block below On Color to choose
the color you wish the pad to appear while in the On position. These settings will be saved along
with sound settings when you save a preset, and pad backlights will display in these colors when
that preset is loaded on your MPK mini Plus.
Control Voltage
To edit the Control Voltage (CV) functions, click the fields to the right of to each function to open
the drop-down menu, then click on your desired setting to select it.
For descriptions of these functions, consult the table under Operation > CV Setup.
Editing a Knob
You can edit settings for each of the 8 Knobs on MPK mini Plus, including CC message, minimum
value, and maximum value. You can also set the channel through which all the knobs send MIDI
data.
To edit the name of a knob, click the text field above the knob and type in the
desired name.
To set the mode of a knob, click the text field just below the knob and select
Absolute or Relative. In Absolute mode, the CC value corresponds directly to
knob position on the MPK. In Relative mode, knob position corresponds to a
particular knob position in your DAW, meaning the CC value will be relative to
that setting.
To select the CC value a knob sends, click the CC field under a knob and then
type the desired CC number (0 – 127).
To select a knob's minimum and maximum values, click the Min field
(minimum) or Max field (maximum) under a knob and then type the desired value
(0 – 127).
21
To select the MIDI channel for all the knobs, click the text field next to Keybed & Controls under
MIDI Channel at the top left corner of the window. Then select the desired MIDI channel number (1 –
16) from the drop-down menu. This will affect the X-Y Controller and keyboard as well as the knobs.
Editing the X-Y Controller (Joystick)
You can designate the function for each axis of the X-Y Controller (joystick), allowing you to use it
to manipulate up to four different parameters simultaneously.
To designate the function of the axis, click the X Axis or Y Axis field next to the X-Y Controller
icon and then select the desired function from the drop-down menu:
• Pitchbend: Moving the X-Y controller along this axis will bend the keyboard pitch.
• Single CC: Moving the X-Y controller along this axis will send a CC message.
• Dual CC: Moving the X-Y controller along this axis will send one CC message in the positive
direction (up or right) and another CC message in the negative direction (down or left).
To select the CC message the X-Y Controller sends (when set to Single CC or Dual CC), click
the CC field(s) and then type the desired value (0 – 127).
To select the MIDI channel for the X-Y Controller, click the
field next to Keybed & Controls under MIDI Channel at the top
left corner of the window. Then select the desired MIDI channel
number (1 – 16) from the drop-down menu. This will affect the
knobs and keyboard as well as the X-Y Controller.
Editing the Keybed
22
To change the keybed octave range, click the field next to
Octave and select the desired range (-4 to +4) from the
drop-down menu.
To transpose the keybed, click the field next to Transpose
and use the drop-down menu to select the number of
semitones by which you wish to transpose the keybed.
To set the keybed chord mode, click the button next to
Chord Mode to activate chord mode. Then, click the field
next to Type and use the drop-down menu to select the
quality of chord to be played by each key. Select “1-3-5” to
play triads, “+7” or “+7 +9” to add extensions, or choose
“Maj7,” “Min7,” or “Dom7” (Dominant 7) to play seventh
chords.
To set the keybed scale, click the button next to Scale
Mode to turn this function on. Click the field next to Key and
use the drop-down menu to select a key for the scale. Click
the field next to Scale to choose the scale you wish the
keybed to play and click the field next to Non-S Note to
choose whether non-scale notes will be silenced (Ignored) or
Transposed.
Editing the Arpeggiator
You can edit various parameters for the arpeggiator.
To activate or deactivate the arpeggiator, click the On/Off icon. The icon will be light grey when
the arpeggiator is on and dark grey when it is off.
To set the arpeggiator’s tempo, click the Tempo field and type in a tempo (30-240 BPM).
To set the arpeggiator’s time division, click the Time Div field. When the drop-down menu
appears, select the desired setting (1/4 – 1/32T).
To set the arpeggiator’s swing, click the Swing field and enter the desired percentage (50 – 75%);
the default value, 50%, is no swing.
To set the arpeggiator’s octave range, click the Octave field and select the desired value from the
drop-down menu: 1, 2, 3, or 4 octaves.
To set the arpeggiator’s mode, click the Mode field. When the drop-down menu appears, select
the desired setting. The mode determines how the arpeggiated notes are played back:
• Up: Notes will sound from lowest to highest.
• Down: Notes will sound from highest to lowest.
• Exclusive: Notes will sound from lowest to highest and then back down. The lowest and
highest notes will sound only once at the directional change.
• Inclusive: Notes will sound from lowest to highest and then back down. The lowest and
highest notes will sound twice at the directional change.
• Order: Notes will sound in the order they were pressed.
• Random: Notes will sound in random order.
23
To activate or deactivate the Latch, click the Latch field and then select Off or On from the dropdown menu.
• Off: When the Latch is Off and you press keys, the Arpeggiator will cease after you
release your fingers from the keyboard.
• On: When the Latch is On and you press keys, the Arpeggiator will continue even after
you release your fingers from the keyboard. While holding down the keys, you can add
more notes to the arpeggio by pressing down additional keys. If you press the keys,
release them, and then press a new combination of keys, the Arpeggiator will arpeggiate
the new notes.
To set the minimum number of taps required for MPK mini Plus’s Tap Tempo button to detect
a new arpeggiator tempo, click the Tempo Taps field and select the desired number from the
drop-down menu: 2, 3, or 4 taps.
Note: The Tap Tempo button is disabled if the Arpeggiator is synced to an external clock.
To set the arpeggiator note length, click the field next to Gate and type in the desired percentage
from 10% - 99%
To set the clock destination of MPK mini Plus, click on the field next to Clock and select either
Internal, External, or CV Trig from the drop-down menu. When set to Internal, the arpeggiator will
run off the unit’s internal clock. When set to External, the arpeggiator will run off MIDI clock data
sent from a host source, such as a DAW. CV Trig mode will receive tempo data from the CV Clock
Input.
Editing the Keybed Curve
You can edit the keybed curve by going to File > Edit Key Curve.
This window allows you to adjust the velocity sensitivity of the keys to match the responsiveness of
your preferred instrument. If you usually play piano or keyboards with weighted keys rather than
synthesizers, you may prefer a heavier feeling key curve.
To make it easier to reach low velocity notes, decrease the value of data points 1 and 2.
To make it easier to reach high velocity notes, increase the value of data points 3 and 4.
To change the black key balance, click the field and enter a value from 0.5 to 2.0. The chosen
value is multiplied by the values selected above in the keybed curve to set the balance between
black and white keys accordingly.
To apply the changes you have made, you must click the Send button.
To return to the default settings, click the Send Defaults button.
To close the Keybed Curve window, click Close.
24
Editing The Sequencers
You can edit and program Key and Drum sequences entirely within the Editor software or by using a
connected MPK mini Plus with the Editor. Click the Sequencer tab to the right of the Controls tab to
open the sequencer editor page.
• Click the field next to Sequence Length and type in the desired sequence length (1 – 64).
• Click the field next to Transpose to toggle this setting on and off.
• Click the field next to Time Division to select the note division for your sequence.
• Click the field next to Pad Mode to set the pad recording mode to Live or Step.
• Click the field next to Key Seq MIDI Channel to select a MIDI channel for the Key
Sequencer.
• Click the field next to Pad Seq MIDI Channel to select a MIDI channel for the Pad
Sequencer.
When you open a saved program in the Editor, the key sequence saved to that program will be
displayed as seen in the image below. The vertical axis of the grid displays notes 1-128, while
sequence step numbers 1-64 are displayed on the horizontal axis.
To enter a note into the key sequence, double-click on the position on the grid corresponding to
the desired note and the step at which you want it to play. Double-click on any note in the sequence
to remove it.
To edit a note’s length and velocity, click on the note in the sequence you wish to edit and then
type in the desired values for velocity (1-127) and note length in steps (1-64).
Your drum sequences will display step-by-step on the grid below the Key Sequencer. The vertical
axis displays Pads 1-16, while the horizontal axis displays the sequence step numbers 1-64.
To enter a note into the drum sequence, double-click the position on the grid corresponding to the
desired pad and the step at which you want it to play. Double-click any note in the sequence to
remove it.
To edit a note’s velocity, click on the note within the sequence you wish to edit and then type in the
desired velocity value (1-127) in the field below the sequence display.
25
Saving Programs
To edit the name of a program, click on the Preset field in the top right corner and type in the
desired name, which will display on the MPK mini Plus’s display screen when sent to the device.
To save a program as a preset, go to File > Save Program. Alternatively, you can type Ctrl + S
(Windows) or + S (Mac). Then select the destination folder on your computer, enter a file name,
and click Save. The favorite will be saved as an .mpkminiplus file.
After saving a program on your computer, you can send it to your MPK mini Plus or edit it again
later. All settings that you see in the Editor software will be saved in the program.
To open a saved program in the Editor, go to File > Open Program. Alternatively, you can type
Ctrl + O (Windows) or + O (Mac). Then select the .mpkminiplus file you wish to open from the File
Explorer.
To send a program to a connected MPK mini Plus, go to File > Send Program and select one of
8 Program slots or the MPK mini Plus’s RAM to send the program to.
To load a preset from a connected MPK mini Plus into the Editor, go to File > Get Program and
select the desired program slot number to load it into the Editor.
26
Appendix
Technical Specifications
Connectors
Power
Dimensions
(width x depth x height)
Weight
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Trademarks & Licenses
Akai Professional is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. macOS is
a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Windows is a reg.istered trademark of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other product names, company names,
trademarks, or trade names are those of their respective owners.
(1) USB Type-B Port
(3) 1/8" (3.5mm) CV Outputs
(2) 1/8” (3.5mm) CV Clock In/Out Ports
(2) MIDI DIN In/Out Ports
(1) Sustain Input
Via USB type-B (bus powered or connected to wall adapter)
17.76” x 7.08” x 2.04”
45.11 cm x 18.0 cm x 5.2 cm
2.78 lbs.
1.26 kg
27
Manual Version 1.2
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